Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Seoul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Seoul or Kingston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Seoul and Kingston can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Seoul or Kingston?
Seoul
With a population of more than 11 million, Seoul is easily the largest city in South Korea. It is also the financial, political, and cultural capital of the country and has much to offer open minded travelers. It is often overlooked by travelers who instead head to Tokyo or Shanghai, but Seoul has a wide range of cultural experiences, food options, and historical sights. Seoul is a city of contrasts with ancient traditions, flashy technology, religious temples and a modern youth culture. It is also more affordable than many of the other Asian metropolis' to which it is often compared. If you're looking for an interesting and different experience that is a little off the tourist trail, Seoul can definitely offer that opportunity.
Kingston
Kingston is Jamaica's capital city with a population of about 579,000. For being located on an island, Kingston is a very large city with several different zip codes. Not only is Kingston the cultural capital of the country, but also the commercial one as well.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea.
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Seoul Prices
South Korea PricesKingston Prices
Jamaica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySeoul $118Kingston $126
The average daily cost (per person) in Seoul is $118, while the average daily cost in Kingston is $126. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Seoul and Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSeoul $50Kingston $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSeoul $100Kingston $126
Compare Hotels in Seoul and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Seoul or Kingston? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Seoul Hotel Prices and Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Seoul $14Kingston $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seoul
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
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Subway Card$3.32
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Short Taxi Ride$4.64
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Metro Ride$0.90
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Seoul City Pass Plus$6.63
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- From Round-Trip Transfer to Dae Jang Geum Park: $50
- Gimpo Airport GMP Private Transfer To From Seoul Hotels: $108
- Incheon Airport (ICN) Transfer to Seoul/Suwon/Seongnam/Yongin: $68
- Incheon Airport transfer directly to Seoul city: $113
- Incheon International Airport (ICN): Private Seoul Transfer: $95
- Lotte World 1Day Pass+Obesrvatoy+Private round transfer(Seoul): $115
- Premium Seoul Airport Transfer: Affordable & Convenience: $105
- Private Airport Transfer * Incheon Airport Seoul (1-5 people): $91
- Private Airport Transfer : Gimpo airport to/from Seoul (1~7pax): $89
- Private Airport Transfer : Incheon to/from Seoul (up to 7 pax): $98
- Private Airport Transfer From Incheon Airport To Seoul(up to 12): $190
- Private Airport Transfer: Gimpo Airport → Hotel in the City: $75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- From One Way Shared Transfer to Kingston Airport: $19
- Private Kingston Airport (KIN) Transfer for Kingston Hotels: $20
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport (KIN) Across Jamaica: $25
- MBJ Airport Transfer to/ from Hotels: $25
- Kingston Airport Transfers Private Taxi Service***: $33
- Private Transfer To & From New Kingston to Norman Manley Airport: $40
- Airport /Hotel Transfer Norman Manley airport and Montego bay: $40
- Kingston to Kingston Norman Manley Airport (KIN) - Departure Private Transfer: $41
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport (KIN) Across Jamaica: $45
- Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport To Ocho Rios Hotels: $45
- From One Way Shared Transfer to Port Antonio: $47
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport Across Jamaica: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Seoul or Kingston?
Prices for flights to both Kingston and Seoul change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one daySeoul $47Kingston $45
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
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Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$3.98
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Waffle$0.66
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Dippin' Dots$1.33
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Chicken Fried Rice$3.65
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Chicken Stick$1.33
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Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.26
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Lunch Buffet$3.98
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Donut$0.66
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Mushroom Burger$3.45
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Green Tea Ice Cream$2.19
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Udon & Sushi$4.64
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Fresh Burger$3.18
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Soba Noodles Lunch$2.98
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Bibimbap Lunch$3.32
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Fried Rice$3.65
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Vietnamese Dinner$6.30
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Breakfast and Coffee for 2$6.30
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Donut$1.66
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
- Guided Street Food Tour at Namdaemun Market: $45
- Seoul Night Run for Local-Favorite Korean BBQ Dinner: $50
- [Wine & K-BBQ] A Perfect Pairing Dinner in Sinchon: $51
- Korean Grandma Cooking Class l Gimbap & Kimchi Pancake l Seoul: $52
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $57
- Sunset Walking Tour in Naksan Park with Dinner: $58
- Wine & K-BBQ: A Perfect Pairing Dinner: $59
- Dinner at a Local's Hanok & Seoul's Night Life: $60
- Kimchi Dishes Cooking Class with Wine Pairing: $61
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $64
- Incheon Full-Day Sunset and Sea Food Tour: $65
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $67
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Seoul $24Kingston $12
Typical Entertainment Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:
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Palace Tickets$5.30
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Movie Ticket$5.30
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Kimchi Museum$1.99
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- K-Culture Adventure in Seoul Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.53
- Seoul Walking Tour 3h30 and 19 audio reviews: $6.72
- Changdeokgung Palace Hanbok Rental Experience in Seoul: $7.00
- Gyeongbokgung Palace Hanbok Rental Experience in Seoul: $7.00
- Gyeongbokgung Palace Hanbok Rental Experience Hanboknam (내국인불가): $7.00
- Seoul Changdeokgung Palace Hanbok Experience Hanboknam (내국인불가): $7.10
- Gwanghwamun Tour l 120 Minutes to Understand South Korea: $10
- Street Hustle Adventure in Seoul: $10
- Rabbithole Drag Show Entry Ticket: $10
- Bukchon Hanok Village Seoul Walking Tour with Audioguide: $12
- Seoul : Essential History Walking Tour for Visitor: $13
- K-Beauty Scalp Spa Experience in Hongdae: $13
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Walking Tour with Mural Exploration: $26
- Bunny Lee Museum and Recording Studio Admission Ticket: $30
- Kingston Creative: Mural Art Walking Tour: $31
- Club Kingston VIP Departure Lounge Experience: $38
- Rhythmic Walking Music Tour: $40
- Guided Bar Hopping Tour with VIP Speakeasy Entry: $40
- Sugar Minott's Youth Promotion Studio Tour: $50
- Judgement Yard Tour: $50
- Kingston Night Market Experience from Kingston: $55
- Bamboo Rafting Adventure in Ocho Rios: $62
- Devon House Heritage Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $63
- Devon House Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $64
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySeoul $11Kingston $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Seoul Pub Crawl by Absolute: $20
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $26
- LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl and Drag Show with Local Drag Queen: $28
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $46
- Soju Tasting at Distillery: $51
- Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $57
- Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $67
- Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $78
- Gangnam Premium Pub Crawl with VIP Bottle Service: $81
- From Yeongdong Day Trip with Wine Tasting and Janggu: $91
Sample the Local Flavors in Kingston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kingston:
- Worthy Park Estate Rum Distillery Tour with Tasting: $144
When comparing the travel costs between Seoul and Kingston, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Seoul is in Asia and Kingston is in Caribbean Islands, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Seoul Expensive? and Is Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Seoul or Kingston?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Kingston. When comparing the sizes of Seoul and Kingston, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Seoul or Kingston?
Seoul has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Kingston experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Seoul or Kingston in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Seoul and Kingston. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Seoul this time of year. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Seoul is cooler than Kingston. Typically, the summer temperatures in Seoul in July average around 26°C (78°F), and Kingston averages at about 29°C (83°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. Seoul usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during summer. Seoul gets 121 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun in the summer.
Seoul gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Seoul usually receives more rain than Kingston. Seoul gets 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySeoul 26°C (78°F)Kingston 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Kingston in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Seoul as well as Kingston. Many travelers come to Seoul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
In October, Seoul is generally much colder than Kingston. Daily temperatures in Seoul average around 15°C (59°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Seoul this time of the year. In the autumn, Seoul often gets less sunshine than Kingston. Seoul gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 229 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Kingston. Seoul usually gets less rain in October than Kingston. Seoul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSeoul 15°C (59°F)Kingston 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Kingston in the Winter?
Both Kingston and Seoul are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Seoul in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Seoul can get quite cold in the winter. Seoul is much colder than Kingston in the winter. The daily temperature in Seoul averages around -3°C (27°F) in January, and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
It's quite sunny in Kingston. Seoul usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during winter. Seoul gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Seoul usually receives more rain than Kingston. Seoul gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySeoul -3°C (27°F)Kingston 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Kingston in the Spring?
Both Kingston and Seoul during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Seoul for the activities around the city during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
In the spring, Seoul is much colder than Kingston. Typically, the spring temperatures in Seoul in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Kingston averages at about 26°C (80°F).
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Seoul. In the spring, Seoul often gets less sunshine than Kingston. Seoul gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun.
Seoul usually gets more rain in April than Kingston. Seoul gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSeoul 13°C (55°F)Kingston 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Kingston and Seoul
| Seoul | Kingston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 0°C (33°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.